Swift euthanasia shocked cat owner

What's Your Problem: After surrendering the family cat to Lollypop Farm, the Jozwiaks were shocked to learn it had been euthanized more quickly than they had expected.

Melody Burri @MPN_MelodyBurri

THE PROBLEM

Meagan Jozwiak and her family had to make a difficult decision recently. Their newborn son had become allergic to Buddy, the long-haired cat that had been part of the family for six years. Although they live in Lancaster, Erie County, Lollypop Farm in Fairport was where the Jozwiaks chose to surrender their healthy cat, under the assumption he'd get a second chance with a new family.

“I made the hour-and-a-half drive, dropped him off after speaking with an associate at the intake area, and drove home upset,” said Jozwiak. “We had exhausted all other options, and our son's health took precedence.”

On their way back to Lancaster, they received a call from someone interested in adopting the cat, and called the shelter back for information so the new owner could pick him up. They were informed by the desk clerk that the cat had already been put down.

“We fully understood that euthanasia was a possibility, but in less than an hour? Their supervisor said to me that it's normal for their staff to advise us that there may be a high likelihood for euthanasia before leaving the facility, but we were never told,” said Jozwiak. “We are fuming and devastated that our cat was never even given a second chance, which was what we had hoped for in a rescue shelter. If they had told us that our cat was likely to be put down, we would not have left him there."

THE STATUS

Humane Society of Greater Rochester spokesperson Adrienne McHargue said there are no prescribed time limits for animals at Lollypop Farm, and pets that are suitable for adoption stay as long as they are physically and mentally healthy.

“It is never an easy decision to bring a pet to a shelter,” said McHargue, “and we understand the emotions and grief the family must be feeling. We are devastated about the outcome for Buddy, as well as the many others surrendered every day who we are not able to adopt.”

Lollypop Farm is an "open-admission" or "open-door" facility, she said, which means every animal brought to the shelter is admitted — even those that are sick, injured, very old, or aggressive and dangerous. It also means the facility does not stop admitting animals when at capacity. At those times, McHargue said, difficult decisions must be made about each animal based on the likelihood of adoption.

When the Jozwiak family admitted their cat, Buddy, there were 850 animals at Lollypop Farm, 420 of which were cats, McHargue said. Buddy's profile made him a likely candidate for euthanasia, she said. Staff members counsel those admitting animals on the possibility of euthanasia, and the admitter must sign a statement that they understand this possible outcome. Based on the information provided and the facility's capacity at the time, people are given an idea about the potential outcome and offered the choice of not surrendering their pet.

WHAT'S NEXT

“We strongly recommend that people who are looking to re-home their pet exhaust all of their options before turning to Lollypop Farm,” McHargue said. “Our website, www.lollypop.org, outlines suggestions and resources for re-homing, offers links to other area animal rescues, and refers people to assistance programs. Making an appointment for admitting a pet to Lollypop Farm is recommended. This allows us to counsel potential admitters on other resources available, advise them of the current shelter capacity and potential outcome for their pet, and to plan ahead for incoming animals."

For the 2012 calendar year, 10,620 animals were surrendered by their owners, admitted as strays, transferred in from other agencies or seized by law enforcement officers. Of those, 7,028 were cats. In the same time, 6,431 animals were adopted, returned to their owners, or transferred to animal rescues — 4,085 were cats.

“We try to place as many animals as possible,” said McHargue. “However, we cannot guarantee the animal you are surrendering will be placed into a new home, and there is a chance your pet will be euthanized. Please be certain your decision to surrender your pet is your final decision. Every person working or volunteering at Lollypop Farm is passionate about saving as many animals as possible, and we need the community to help us in this mission.”

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